Anti-noise Ordinance Raises Clamor

Though her house is only 12 feet from the loading dock of a Jewel Food Store in Downers Grove, Ruth Marks says since 1978 her environment has been pretty peaceful.

Such peace did not come by accident, Marks said. It occurred only after a call was made to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency after the Jewel, at 6215 Main St., was nearly doubled in size and the truck delivery noise became unbearable.

An EPA agent persuaded Jewel management to stop truck deliveries from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and to post signs ordering truck drivers to turn off truck refrigerators and engines when making daytime deliveries, she said.

But now, ironically, she fears that peace is being threatened by a proposed village ordinance intended to reduce the noise generated by trucks.

The ordinance, discussed by the Village Board Monday, would ban the parking of any truck with its engine or refrigerator unit in operation between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. within 300 feet of any residence. The minimum penalty would be $50.

Marks considers such an ordinance ``ambiguous`` because it would not ban overnight deliveries nor order drivers to shut down their trucks.

``The ordinance will say that now the drivers can come in and run their refrigerators,`` Marks said at Monday`s meeting. ``It`s a free-for-all during the day.``

Marks also complained that the current Jewel management does not consider the EPA agreement as binding. ``I`m appealing to you,`` she told the board.

``You are my only help. I fought it myself in the beginning. It hasn`t been a picnic living next door to Jewel.``

While the Village Board agreed to table the matter until further study, Village Atty. Barbara Gosselar noted that even if the ordinance were rewritten, it could not parallel the EPA`s standards or regulations. The village does not have jurisdiction over such matters, she said.

The ordinance was proposed in response to complaints from residents living near a Cub Foods Store at 1212 W. 75th St.

Anthony F. DeVita, a spokesman for the residents, said he, too, was not happy with the proposed ordinance. He said he would like to see an ordinance similar to the Jewel agreement.

DeVita said the noise is worst in the evening and proposes that a parking ban be enforced from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Gordon Farrington, Cub Foods state division director of operations, said the store ``wants to be a good neighbor,`` but the curtailment of deliveries could create serious problems for customers who need certain products and may result in layoffs of employees.

If such a situation occurs, ``It`s going to be pretty tough to operate and do business in Downers Grove,`` Farrington said.

In response to the recent complaints, Cub Foods has hired a security guard to patrol the dock area and ensure that drivers turn off truck engines when stock is being unloaded, Farrington said.